The band has released five albums: "3/5" (1997), "The Cat and the Cobra" (1999), "Go Forth" (2001), "Let's Stay Friends" (2007) and "Root for Ruin" (2010). "Inches", a compilation of the non-album singles the band released between 1995 and 2004 was released in April 2004.
PILLS
Les Savy Fav Lyrics
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I came upon a burning bush.
"What wants you vision?", says I
And it spoke, and I quote,
"Apocalypse can go down easy
You gotta know it's an acquired taste.
You're sacrifice can't please me
Hip hip for imperfection,
I want to make a mess.
I've got a secret theory
That disarray works best
And though it don't work often
Oh my God when it does-
Watch as the outburst softens
It's had its way with us.
They're scared of the silence
But be scared-er of the sound.
Hearts are not only beating
They are all counting down.
You're not ready for disorder.
You're not ready for decay.
Have you been staving
Time and aging
Sloughing dead skin away?
I must confess I said with a smile,
"I'm frightened as a child.
And I suspect by
The smoke in your eye
You're thinking 'So am I.'
Apocalypse can go down easy
You gotta know it's an acquired taste.
Our sacrifice can't please thee
You're dead set to destroy this place.
If the aspirin you take
Doesn't cure your headache
Why do docs propose
The headache's in your head?
And if the orgasms we fake
Take their toll and take the cake
Why do they suppose
We're better off in bed?
And then the bush said,
"You and I, we were meant to be together.
You and I, we are gonna hang together.
You and I, we are going down together."
The lyrics to Les Savy Fav's song Pills take the form of a conversation between the singer and a talking burning bush. The bush speaks about its desire for disarray and destruction, expressing a belief that imperfection works best and that an apocalypse can go down easy. The bush also warns the singer about the impending silence and countdown of hearts, and questions why people trust in cures that don't work.
The idea of the apocalypse going down easy is a striking one, suggesting a willingness to accept the end of the world and all of its chaos. This could be seen as a commentary on the current state of society, where some individuals are disillusioned with the status quo and its flaws. The bush's comment about disarray working best could also be seen as a criticism of the notion of perfection and the pressure to conform to certain standards. The warning about the countdown of hearts suggests an impending sense of doom and mortality, adding to the apocalyptic imagery of the song.
The conversation ends with the bush stating that the singer and it were meant to be together and that they are going down together. This could be interpreted as a sign of surrender and acceptance of the apocalypse or simply a suggested bond between the singer and chaos.
Overall, Pills is a commentary on the nature of society, perfection, and mortality, utilizing the imagery of an apocalypse and a talking burning bush to present these themes.
Line by Line Meaning
Once when walking in the woods
During a past experience of walking in the woods.
I came upon a burning bush.
I stumbled upon a specific burning bush.
"What wants you vision?", says I
I asked the burning bush what it wanted me to see.
And it spoke, and I quote,
The burning bush responded to me with the following message.
"Apocalypse can go down easy
The end of the world can seem like a simple process.
You gotta know it's an acquired taste.
You have to learn to appreciate it.
You're sacrifice can't please me
The things you give up won't satisfy me.
I'm dead set to destroy this place.
I am determined to destroy the world.
Hip hip for imperfection,
Hooray for things not being perfect,
I want to make a mess.
I want to cause chaos.
I've got a secret theory
I have a hypothesis that is unknown to most people.
That disarray works best
That chaos is the best way to achieve goals.
And though it don't work often
Although it doesn't always work.
Oh my God when it does-
When it does work, it's intense.
Watch as the outburst softens
Observe how the chaos calms down.
It's had its way with us.
It has manipulated us and taken control.
They're scared of the silence
People are afraid of quiet and stillness.
But be scared-er of the sound.
Be more afraid of the noise.
Hearts are not only beating
Hearts aren't just pumping blood,
They are all counting down.
They are all ticking down towards death.
You're not ready for disorder.
You're not prepared for chaos.
You're not ready for decay.
You're not prepared for decline.
Have you been staving
Have you been avoiding or delaying
Time and aging
The passage of time and the effects of aging.
Sloughing dead skin away?
Getting rid of things that are no longer necessary or useful?
I must confess I said with a smile,
I admitted with a grin,
"I'm frightened as a child.
I'm scared like a small kid.
And I suspect by
And I think that based on
The smoke in your eye
The way your eyes are red and watering from the smoke,
You're thinking 'So am I.'
You're probably thinking the same thing as me.
If the aspirin you take
If the medicine you take for pain relief,
Doesn't cure your headache
Isn't effective at eliminating your headache,
Why do docs propose
Why do doctors suggest
The headache's in your head?
That the headache is psychological, not physical?
And if the orgasms we fake
If we pretend to experience pleasure during sex,
Take their toll and take the cake,
Cause emotional harm and worsen the situation,
Why do they suppose
Why do they think
We're better off in bed?
That we're better off having sex even if it's not enjoyable?
And then the bush said,
And then the burning bush stated,
"You and I, we were meant to be together.
You and I were always meant to be in each other's lives.
You and I, we are gonna hang together.
We are going to stick together, even in tough times.
You and I, we are going down together."
We are going to experience downfall and destruction together.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: HARRISON HAYNES, SETH JABOUR, SYD BUTLER, TIM HARRINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind